Archaeologists have excavated the house of a ‘wealthy and cultured’ man who lived in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii that was buried by ash and rock spewed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Mount Vesuvius, on the west coast of Italy, is the only active volcano in continental Europe and is thought to be one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
The eruption belched out a lethal combination of toxic sulphurous gas and hundreds of tonnes of volcanic ash that buried the cities of Pompeii, Oplontis, and Stabiae overnight.
Seismic activity from Vesuvius also triggered a deadly mudflow, wiping out the ancient city of Herculaneum
Conservation work is now underway and new finds have been uncovered at a private house known as the ‘House of Jupiter’ (Casa di Giove) in the Regio V part of the ancient city.
The house was already partly excavated between the 18th and 19th centuries but archaeologists have uncovered yet more frescoes and ornate remains that give us an insight into everyday life thousands of years ago.
The 2,000 year-old works of art are in good condition, despite surviving one of the most devastating volcanic eruptions in written history.
Archaeologists have uncovered new findings in the house of a wealthy man who lived in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii that was buried by ash and rock following the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
The name of the house comes from a small picture depicting Jupiter found on a shrine placed in the garden.
It was believed to belong to a wealthy and educated man and is decorated in first Roman style (primo stile pompeiano).
The house has a central atrium surrounded by several decorated rooms with fake marble painted in bright shades of red, yellow and green.
‘The rooms in the back, reserved for the family, had been restored with more contemporary decor’, said the director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, Massimo Osanna.
Traces of fire were found in an adjacent house which had blackened the frescoed wall.
Mr Osanna told Italian news outlet ANSA: ‘The domus had ‘vintage’ decoration in the first Pompeian style.
‘The owner must have been wealthy and cultured, aware of the value of painting’.
During the conservation work, new finds were uncovered at a private house called the ‘House of Jupiter’ (Casa di Giove) the Regio V part of the ancient city. Pictured is an archaeologist during excavations at the site
The discovery has been hailed as a ‘complete novelty’ – and the Italian Culture Ministry hopes they can be restored and opened to the public
Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year AD 79, burying the cities of Pompeii, Oplontis, and Stabiae under ashes and rock fragments, and the city of Herculaneum under a mudflow
The house was already partly excavated between the 18th and 19th centuries but archaeologists have uncovered yet more frescoes and ornate remains that give us an insight into everyday life
An avalanche of hot ash, rock and poisonous gas rushed down the side of the volcano at 124mph (199kph), burying victims and remnants of everyday life
The Pompeii eruptions was said to be ‘exceptional’ and the number of deaths is thought to exceed 10,000
Mr Osanna also said that the site is the largest excavation in the unexplored area of the ancient city in the post-war period.
Within the walls of the ill-fated ‘House of Jupiter’ the archaeologists found an impressive array of terracotta lion heads, coins, glass objects and roof tiles emblazoned with trademarks.
Scientists also excavated the area around the house, unearthing the nearby pavement and an adjacent alleyway.
Mr Ossana says the excavation project will continue until 2020.
Hundreds of refugees sheltering in the vaulted arcades at the seaside in Herculaneum, clutching their jewellery and money, were killed instantly. Pictured is volcanic debris found at the new site
While the eruption lasted for around 24 hours, the first pyroclastic surges began at midnight, causing the volcano’s column to collapse
The name of the house comes from a small picture depicting Jupiter found on a shrine placed in the garden. It was believed to belong to a wealthy and educated man and is decorated in first Roman style (primo stile pompeiano)
Around 30,000 people are believed to have died in the chaos, with bodies still being discovered to this day
The house has a central atrium surrounded by several decorated rooms with fake marble painted in bright shades of red, yellow and green
Archeologists inspect excavation works in the archaeological site of Pompeii, Thursday, May 17, 2018. Archaeologists excavating an unexplored part of Pompeii have discovered a street of houses with intact balconies that were buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
In the past few months archaeologists have also excavated a street of houses with intact balconies that were also buried by the vast eruption.
Some of the balconies even had amphorae – the conical-shaped terra cotta vases that were used to hold wine and oil in ancient Roman times.
The discovery has been hailed as a ‘complete novelty’.
The Italian Culture Ministry hopes they can be restored and opened to the public.
The culture ministry’s Pompeii authority announced the discovery of the balconies back in May.
It said the balconies were a ‘complete novelty’ for this part of the buried city, which hasn’t yet been fully excavated.
Upper stores have seldom been found among the ruins of the ancient town, which was destroyed by an eruption of Vesuvius volcano and buried under up to six metres of ash and volcanic rubble.
An aerial view of the excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered in Pompeii, Italy, 17 May 2018. The Alley of Balconies was uncovered in previously unexcavated area in Pompeii. Almost two thousand years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the buildings will be restored and will become a part of a route at the Pompeii.
Left, a general view of the excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii. Right, An amphora recovered during excavation works at the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered
A statement said the balconies will be restored and the area included in a tour open to the public.
‘This type of find is a novelty for this area of Pompeii,’ a spokesperson for the archaeological site said in a statement shared to social media.
‘Almost two thousand years from the eruption of 79 AD, Pompeii continues to give us treasures.’
Archaeologists found a series of buildings with three large balconies, in an area of Regio V which has been the focus of excavations.
‘On one of the balconies we have also discovered toppled over wine amphorae, which were likely left out to dry in the sun,’ the team said.
‘The balconies will be restored and included in an all new visitor itinerary which will connect Via di Nola with Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento,’ they added.
Massimo Osanna, Superintendent of the Special Superintendency for the archaeological heritage of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia shows a bronze vase discovered during excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered in Pompeii, Italy, 17 May 2018. The Alley of Balconies was uncovered in previously unexcavated area in Pompeii. Uncovered buildings with big balconies have Pompeian red colors and geometric, flowers and animal decorations. Almost two thousand years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the buildings will be restored and will become a part of a route at the Pompeii.
A man points at a detail of a fresco that was found during excavation works in the archaeological site of Pompeii, Thursday, May 17, 2018. Archaeologists excavating an unexplored part of Pompeii have discovered a street of houses with intact balconies that were buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Right, jaguar painted on tiles recovered during excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered
‘A series of buildings with three large balconies have emerged in an area now being excavated.
‘On one of the balconies, pots of wine lying on their side [were also found, which were] probably put out to dry in the sun,’ the statement continued.
Experts will now restore the houses, which will be open to the public as part of a new tour route at the popular site once the necessary work has been completed.
A column with overlaid marble emerged from the ground during excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered in Pompeii, Italy, 17 May 2018. The Alley of Balconies was uncovered in previously unexcavated area in Pompeii.
Details of frescos that were found during excavation works in the archaeological site of Pompeii, Thursday, May 17, 2018. Archaeologists excavating an unexplored part of Pompeii have discovered a street of houses with intact balconies that were buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
Earlier this week the ancient remains of a military horse that died 2,000 years ago in the inferno that obliterated Pompeii were discovered – thanks to the help of tomb raiders.
Criminals had been using tunnels they dug to search for valuables in the ruins of a Roman villa, located in a suburb of the long destroyed city.
Amphoras recovered during excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies)
The Alley of Balconies was uncovered in previously unexcavated area in Pompeii. Uncovered buildings with big balconies have Pompeian red colors and geometric, flowers and animal decorations. Almost two thousand years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the buildings will be restored and will become a part of a route at the Pompeii.
Their work prompted conservators of the Unesco world heritage site to start their own digs, in order to put a stop to their activities and protect its remaining artefacts.
Researchers used laser scanning to map a 200ft (60m) long network of illegal tunnels dug by the robbers and began excavating.
They recreated the complete outline of the horse they discovered using plaster casting, the first time this has happened at the site.
The remains of humans, mules, donkeys and other animals that were victims of the eruption of Mt Vesuvius’ in AD 78 have previously been restored using the technique.